Two hours earlier, it looked like Dylan Chappell’s Ondulando home might survive the Thomas Fire as it pushed its way through Ventura’s hillsides in a random path, preying on a house here but not one just down the hill.

Then the fire jumped. Chappel’s cellphone buzzed. It was Damien Zegers, who lived on the same street, on Colina Vista, and was checking on houses.

Zegers started rescuing possessions firefighters dragged out: a wedding picture of Dylan and Danica Chappell signed by family and friends, jewelry, an Elf on the Shelf toy for the couple’s two kids and Danica’s wedding dress.

“He literally had a brand-new car that he filled with our smoke-filled possessions,” Chappell said.

Neighbors have always helped each other here. Chappell thinks the dynamic will carry through a massive rebuild involving many of the 777 homes destroyed by the fire, more than 500 of them in Ventura.

Interested in this topic? You may also want to view these photo galleries:

Those numbers will deplete the housing construction workforce, possibly send prices rising and make neighbors compete against each other.

The 38-year-old architect who found a temporary home in Oxnard’s RiverPark thinks there’s a different way.

“Instead of saying, ‘Hey, what is it going to cost to rebuild my home’ and compete with five other neighbors ... get together with your neighbors and see if you can get one contractor to build all five of your houses,” he said.

The idea is just an idea but it’s spreading. Underinsured homeowners desperate to save money are talking about joining forces to create an economy of scale. Home builders, architects and others are also trying to find ways to work together.

In Chappell’s stretch of Colina Vista, the architect and a neighbor have already shared a land surveyor. Chappell is designing both homes, using variations of the same plan.

They plan to build together, too. They are talking to a handful of neighbors, as well, with the idea of not only sharing general contractors but concrete specialists, electricians and other subcontractors.

No commitments have been made and likely won’t be made until the group starts to see real numbers in construction bids.

“That will be a reality check,” said Chappell, who thinks it may take longer to build. He also thinks it’s at least possible the collaborators could save 10 to 20 percent.

“I don’t know if those numbers are realistic, but I think it’s at least worth going through the exercise of finding out,” he said.

Will it pay off?

The idea gets mixed reviews from contractors. David Atkin, a Ventura builder, said the way money would be saved by people banding together is if they build almost duplicate homes.

He’s not sure that will happen.

“Everyone’s going to want to have their own individual house,” he said, asserting that many of the construction costs are fixed. “You’re talking about costs of material and man-hours. That’s not going to change if you’re building one house or five houses.”

Others note that many of the residences lost to the fire in the hillsides were first built as part of tract communities. They also contend contractors will be willing to accept less on each home to work on more homes.

“If you buy six Yorkshire terriers, wouldn’t you get a better price than if you get one?”

Rick Rose, Rose Masonry and Concrete

“Common sense would tell you would get a better price,” said Rick Rose of Rose Masonry and Concrete in Ventura, who thinks he’ll likely do foundation work in the fire-scarred neighborhoods. “If you buy six Yorkshire terriers, wouldn’t you get a better price than if you get one?”

Most people hedge their bets.

“It’s too early to know,” said Jeff Lambert, community development director for the city of Ventura, noting that the concept of saving money and resources by banding together makes sense. “I don’t think it’s impossible. The city is very open to exploring those kinds of ideas.”

’A healing process’

Homeowners aren’t the only ones talking about unifying. Architects, general contractors, engineers and others have formed a rebuild Ventura coalition.

“We knew this was going to be a huge issue,” said architect and general contractor Laura Kay Dunbar, referring to the number of homes lost in Ventura, the likely workforce shortage and the difficulties of rebuilding on hillsides.

Part of the coalition’s efforts involves holding workshops to help homeowners understand what’s coming. Another part is figuring out how the economy of scale concept can be employed.

Dunbar thinks the key involves homeowners on adjacent lots agreeing to build similar homes. That would allow contractors to buy in quantity and work in one general area.

There are other variations. Architect David Ferrin, also part of the coalition, said that if he designs a home for someone rebuilding, he’ll offer the same plan at a reduced price to other neighbors.

“That would probably be about half my fee,” Ferrin said, noting that the first client would get money back for each other person who used the plan.

An easy decision

Some contractors are aggressively pursuing the economy of scale.

Williams Homes, a Santa Clarita contractor building a development off Ventura’s Telegraph Road called The Farm, is also reaching out to Thomas Fire homeowners. They want to build tract homes.

The more, the merrier.

“The larger scale that we build on, the better pricing we’re able to deliver,” said Daniel Faina, vice president of sales and marketing for Willams Homes, noting that company representatives have met with “dozens” of families.

The idea of homeowners building together makes sense and could bring savings, said Faina. The problem comes in finding the time required to navigate the journey.

He suggested finding a contractor who will guide the entire process.

“We know what’s ahead,” he said.

Apprehension about rebuilding

Bob Holmberg doesn’t know what’s ahead. The unknown intrigues him.

The retired chef who now teaches at Oxnard College’s culinary school lived next to Dylan Chappell on Colina Vista for nearly three years.

Then the Thomas Fire wiped out both of their homes.

Holmberg, 68, wasn’t sure whether to rebuild. He decided to go ahead, in part as a way to use insurance money that can be applied toward the costs of a new home.

“I’m excited about the idea. I like it. It’s a new adventure for me,” he said.

He and Chappell shared resources on renovation projects. Teaming up on design and construction was an easy idea. He realizes neighbors may struggle on whether to join forces.

“There’s a lot of apprehension,” he said, noting people want to build their homes according to their needs and on their own schedule. “People are trying to decide what to do. ‘Where do I throw my hand?’”

Chappell doesn’t know what’s going to happen either. But he thinks the possibilities should be explored.

Even more importantly, he thinks people should talk openly about their plans, understand that what they build affects others and work together when they can.